Kyle Smith was named Columbia’s 22nd head coach in the 113-year history of the men’s basketball program on May 2, 2010.

Smith’s 76 victories in five seasons are the most in such a span since Columbia posted 82 wins from 1967-68 season to 1971-72. It is also the most for a Lions coach in his first five seasons at the helm since Lou Rossini notched 84 wins from 1950-54.

Last season, Columbia was plagued by long-term injuries to starters Grant Mullins and Alex Rosenberg. However, the Lions were still competitive with some of the best programs in the nation, leading No. 1 Kentucky for 27 minutes and holding the Wildcats to 56 points, their lowest output of the season. Maodo Lo emerged as one of the top guards in the Ivy League, earning unanimous all-conference accolades, NABC All-Region honors and an All-Metropolitan second team nod.

Smith guided the Lions to one of the best seasons in school history in 2013-14. Columbia posted a 21-13 overall record and a postseason appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, both firsts for the program since the Ivy League Championship season of 1967-68.

The Lions were also dominant at home, winning 14 games, the most in the history of Levien Gymnasium, which opened its doors in 1974. Smith’s philosophy of strong shooting was on display throughout the landmark campaign, with the squad hitting 278 3-pointers and converting at a .755 rate (finishing fourth in the NCAA) from the foul line, both new team records.

Individually, every returning player on the 2013-14 roster improved statistically highlighted by All-Ivy League selections Rosenberg and Lo. Rosenberg was named first team All-Ivy League and was Ancient Eight Player of the Week a record setting four times after averaging 16.0 points per game. Lo led the conference in 3-point field goal percentage and netted 14.7 points per contest to earn a second team All-Ivy League selection.

In 2012-13, the Lions knocked off a pair of eventual NCAA Tournament teams after statement wins at Villanova and against Harvard at Levien Gym.

Smith completed the 2011-12 season leading Columbia to its second straight 15-win season, marking the first time a coach compiled back-to-back 15+ win seasons since Tom Penders in 1977-78 and 1978-79. Brian Barbour was named first team All-Ivy League, the second straight season the Lions had a first team All-Ivy selection. Barbour was also an all-region honoree by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Smith led the Lions to a 15-13 record in 2010-11, the first winning season for a new Columbia head coach in 33 years. Ten of those wins came at home games at Levien Gymnasium, tied for the most in program history in a single season. The Lions increased their scoring output by more than 10 points per game in 2010-11 and scored more than 70 points 15 different times during the season.

Under Smith's tutelage, a pair of Columbia guards – Noruwa Agho (first team) and Brian Barbour (honorable mention) – were named All-Ivy League. Agho was also recognized on a regional level by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Metropolitan Writers Association.

Smith, who was an 18-year veteran assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, had worked as the associate head men’s basketball coach at St. Mary’s College (Ca.) of the West Coast Conference (WCC), for nine seasons. At St. Mary’s, he played an integral role in building their successful men’s basketball program. In 2009-10, the Gaels finished 28-6 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

When Smith arrived at St. Mary’s (Calif.) in 2001, the team had won only two games in the previous season. In his last three years with the Gaels, the school won 81 games. As the associate head coach under Randy Bennett, he was responsible for running the team’s offense and coordinating all recruiting activities. He was a vital component of the coaching staff that saw St. Mary’s ascend into the Top-25 in 2010.

Before coming to Saint Mary’s, Smith spent one season as the top assistant at the Air Force Academy. During his only season with the Falcons, Smith served as the offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and helped with player development and scouting.

Before joining the Academy, Smith served an eight-year stint at the University of San Diego from 1992-2000. During his time at San Diego, Smith helped lead the team to the second most victories in school history from 1998-2000. As the Asso­ciate Head Coach, Smith helped guide a Torero defense led the West Coast Conference in fewest points allowed (62.6 ppg) and was also ranked among the top 20 in the country in rebounding margin in 1999-2000.

Smith is a 1992 graduate of Hamilton College, where he played basketball, and helped lead the Continentals to a 26-1 record and a #1 ranking in NCAA Division III during his junior season. In his senior season at Hamilton, Smith shot 51.3 percent from three-point range, which still stands as the program record for a single season. That year, Hamilton was ECAC Champions.

Smith holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego, where he began his coaching career. He and his wife, Katie, have three sons, Rocco, Bo and Luke. The family resides in Morningside Heights, close to the Columbia campus.